Structure of collapsible rack

ABSTRACT

A collapsible rack includes symmetric support frames composed of vertical bars and horizontal bars and top and bottom frames connected between the support frames in a movable manner. The top and bottom frames are composed of connected movable left and right boards, which have front and rear faces that define recessed channels. Spaced fitting holes are defined in the channels. Straight bars form pegs. The top and bottom frames are of movability to allow the top and bottom frames to be collapsed to a stacked flat configuration when the rack is not in use, so as to facilitate storage and transportation. When the rack is to be used, the top and bottom frames are expanded and the straight bars are set to have the pegs fit in the fitting holes defined in the left and right boards to fix the top and bottom frames in the expanded position.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a collapsible rack, and more particularly to a collapsible rack that can be expanded for use and selectively collapsed into a stacked flat configuration for ease of transportation and storage.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A rack for receiving articles to be stored or positioned thereon is often made of wood or plastics and is constructed with a plurality of properly secured frames and shelves mounted to the frames to receive articles to be positioned thereon. The conventional rack is of a fixed structure where the frames and the shelves are fixedly mounted together, making it difficult to transport, for the transportation of the conventional rack is an effort consuming job, which often require assistance from other persons. Further, when not in use, the conventional rack takes a great amount of space and since its size is fixed and cannot be reduced, storage of the conventional rack requires quite an amount of space. In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a collapsible rack that overcomes such drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a structure of collapsible rack, which is expandable to receive and hold articles positioned thereon and is selectively collapsed into a stacked flat configuration to facility transportation and storage by reducing the amount of space occupied thereby.

According to the present invention, a collapsible rack comprises symmetrically arranged support frames, each of which is composed of a plurality of vertical bars and a plurality of horizontal bars, and top and bottom frames connected between the support frames in a movable manner. Each of the top and bottom frames is composed of movable left and right boards that are connected to each other. The left and right boards have front and rear faces that define recessed channels and a plurality of spaced fitting holes is defined in the channels. A plurality of straight bars is provided, each forming a plurality of pegs. The top and bottom frames are of movability to allow the top and bottom frames to be collapsed downward and upward to a stacked flat configuration when the rack is not in use, so as to facilitate storage and transportation. When the rack is to be used, the top and bottom frames are expanded and the straight bars are set to have the pegs fit in the fitting holes defined in the left and right boards to fix the top and bottom frames in the expanded position, so that the top and bottom frames can receive and support articles positioned thereon.

In the rack so formed as discussed above, connectors are set to connect between the top and bottom frames and the support frames and between the left and right boards of the top and bottom frames in a movable manner. The connectors comprise hinges or other openable/closable connection devices.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the collapsible rack according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing collapse of the rack according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a collapsible rack according to another embodiment of the present invention, with only one board being visible and detached from the rack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the rack of FIG. 5 is a partially collapsed condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show a perspective view and an exploded view of a collapsible rack according to the present invention, the collapsible rack of the present invention comprises a plurality of symmetrically arranged support frames 1, each of which is composed of a plurality of vertical bars 11 and a plurality of horizontal bars 12, and movable top and bottom frames 2, which are connected between the support frames 1. Each of the horizontal bars 12 has a lower edge to which a retention bar 13 is mounted. Each of the top and bottom frames 2 is composed of left and right boards 21, 22 that are connected to each other in a movable manner. The top and bottom frames 2 and the support frames 1 are connected to each other by connectors 3 (which can be hinges or other openable/closable connection devices), so that the top and bottom frames 2 are foldable about edges of the support frames 1. Similarly, the left and right boards 21, 22 of each of the top and bottom frames 2 are connected to each other by connectors 3, so that the left and right boards 21, 22 are foldable with respect to each other.

Front and rear faces of the left and right boards 21, 22 of the top and bottom frames 2 respectively form recessed channels 211, 221, and in each of the channels 211, 221, a plurality of spaced fitting holes 212, 222 is defined.

A plurality of straight bars 4 is provided, each having a length substantially corresponding to the total length of the channels 211, 221 formed in the front and rear faces of the left and right boards 21, 22 of each top or bottom frame 2. Each straight bar 4 forms a plurality of pegs 41 corresponding to the fitting holes 212, 222.

A rack can be formed by assembling the above discussed components together, wherein the movability of the top and bottom frames 2 allows the top and bottom frames 2 to be collapsed downward and upward to a stacked flat configuration when the rack is not in use, so as to facilitate storage and transportation. When the rack is to be used, the top and bottom frames 2 are expanded and the straight bars 4 are at least partially set into the channels 211, 221 with the pegs 41 fit in the fitting holes 212, 222 defined in the left and right boards 21, 22 to fix the top and bottom frames 2 in the expanded position, whereby the top and bottom frames 2 may receive and support articles positioned thereon. Or alternatively, the retention bars 13 may receive and support flat boards 14 positioned thereon to constitute a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supporting articles thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, collapse of the rack of the present invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, to use the rack of the present invention, the top and bottom frames 2 are first expanded upward and downward. Since the frames are connected together by the connectors 3, the expansion of the frames sets up a rack, which allows the pegs 41 of the straight bars 4 to be fit into the fitting holes 212, 222 of the left and right boards 21, 22 to have the rack fixed in the expanded position, or alternatively allows the flat boards 14 to be positioned on the retention bars 13 to complete a rack, where the top and bottom frames 2 or the flat boards 14 may receive articles to be positioned thereon and supported thereby. When the rack of the present invention is not in use, the straight bars 4 are first removed from the fitting holes 212, 222 of the left and right boards 21, 22 and the top and bottom frames 2 are then respectively folded downward and upward. At the same time when the top and bottom frames 2 are folded, the support frames 1 are caused to approach toward each other and thus collapse, whereby the top and bottom frames 2, in the folded condition, are interposed between the collapsed support frames 1 to form a stacked flat configuration, which helps storage and transportation of the rack, for the collapsed rack occupies a less amount of space in storage.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, which show a perspective view of a collapsible rack according to another embodiment of the present invention and a perspective view of the rack in a partially collapsed condition, the rack of said another embodiment of the present invention comprises symmetrically arranged front and rear frames 5, 6, each of which is composed of a plurality of vertical bars 51, 61 and a plurality of horizontal bars 52, 62, and movable side frames 7 connected between the front and rear frames 5, 6. The front and rear frames 5, 6 are connected to the side frames 7 with the vertical bars 51, 61 thereof by means of connectors 8 to form a movable configuration. The connectors 8 can be hinges or any other openable/closable connection devices. Further, the horizontal bars 52, 62 define therein fitting holes 521, 621, which are properly spaced from each other.

The side frames 7, of which the number is two in the embodiment illustrated, are each composed of left and right sub-frames 71, 72, which are connected to each other in a movable manner. The left and right sub-frames 71, 72 are connected to each other by connectors 8 to form a movable configuration. The left and right sub-frames 71, 72 have inside surfaces to which horizontally extending elongate ribs 711, 721 are mounted.

A plurality of flat boards 9 is provided but only one is visible in the drawings. Each of the flat boards 9 has a bottom to which elongate ribs 91 are mounted close to opposite side edges thereof. Also, pegs 92 are provided on the bottom along front and rear edge of the flat board 9 to correspond to the fitting holes 521, 621 that are defined in the horizontal bars 52, 62 of the front and rear frames 5, 6.

A rack is formed by assembling the above discussed components together, wherein the movability of the front and rear frames 5, 6 and the side frames 7 allows the rack to be collapsed into a stacked flat configuration, when the rack is not in use, so as to facilitate storage and transportation of the rack. When the rack is to be used, the front and rear frames 5, 6 and the side frames 7 are expanded and the flat boards 9 are set to have the pegs 92 fit into the fitting holes 521, 621 of the horizontal bars 52, 62 so that he flat boards 9 are securely fixed on the horizontal bars 52, 62 with the elongate ribs 711, 721 mounted to the inside surfaces of the left and right sub-frames 71, 72 serving as stops to hold the boards 9 in position whereby the flat boards 9 may stably receive articles to be positioned thereon and supported thereby.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A collapsible rack, comprising: a plurality of support frames, each of which is composed of a plurality of vertical bars and a plurality of horizontal bars; a plurality of the top and bottom frames, which are connected to and between the support frames in a movable manner, each of the top and bottom frames comprising movable left and right boards, each of which has front and rear surfaces that define recessed channels, a plurality of spaced fitting holes being defined in the channels; and a plurality of straight bars, which have dimensions corresponding to the channels defined in the front and rear surfaces of the left and right boards and form a plurality of pegs corresponding to the fitting holes; wherein in the rack so formed, the top and bottom frames are of movability to allow the top and bottom frames to be collapsed downward and upward to a stacked flat configuration when the rack is not in use, so as to facilitate storage and transportation and wherein when the rack is to be used, the top and bottom frames are expanded and the straight bars are set to have the pegs fit in the fitting holes defined in the left and right boards to fix the top and bottom frames in the expanded position, so that the top and bottom frames are adapted to receive and support articles positioned thereon.
 2. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal bars of the support frames have lower edges to which retention bars are mounted to selectively support flat boards thereon so as to form vertically spaced shelves.
 3. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein connectors are set to connect between the top and bottom frames and the support frames and between the left and right boards of the top and bottom frames, and wherein the connectors comprise hinges or other openable/closable connection devices.
 4. A collapsible rack, comprising: a front frame, which is composed of a plurality of vertical bars and a plurality of horizontal bars, each of the horizontal bars defining spaced fitting holes; a rear frame, which is composed of a plurality of vertical bars and a plurality of horizontal bars, each of the horizontal bars defining spaced fitting holes; two side frames, which are connected between the front and rear frames in a movable manner and each comprising movable and connected left and right sub-frames, the left and right sub-frames having inside surfaces to which horizontally extending elongate ribs are mounted; and a plurality of flat boards, each of which has a bottom forming elongate ribs close to opposite side edges thereof and comprising pegs formed along front and rear edges to correspond to the fitting holes defined in the horizontal bars of the front and rear frames; wherein in the rack so formed, the front and rear frames and the side frames are of movability to allow the rack to be collapsed into a stacked flat configuration, when the rack is not in use, so as to facilitate storage and transportation of the rack and wherein when the rack is to be used, the front and rear frames and the side frames are expanded and the flat boards are set to have the pegs fit into the fitting holes of the horizontal bars so that he flat boards are securely fixed on the horizontal bars with the elongate ribs mounted to the inside surfaces of the left and right sub-frames serving as stops to hold the boards in position whereby the flat boards are adapted to stably receive articles to be positioned thereon and supported thereby.
 5. The collapsible rack according to claim 4, wherein connectors are set to connect between the front and rear frames and the side frames, and between the left and right sub-frames of the side frames in a movable manner, and wherein the connectors comprise hinges or other openable/closable connection devices. 